LOST SPARKLE
‘Sign of the times’ moan M&S fans as shock closure of ‘lovely’ store revealed – just six months after opening
M&S has also confirmed the closure date of another store
MARKS and Spencer has confirmed another store closure just hours after closing its beloved Peterborough branch.
The posh retailer has confirmed another store is due to close in Wimborne just six months after it first opened.
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The M&S Food store at Crown Mead in Wimborne will close for good on April 26.
The store was first opened on October 12 last year by local school children the town payor and the friendly character Percy Pig.
The 4,000sq ft M&S Food store offered a bakery, plus a click-and-collect service for clothing and home products bought online.
Locals took to Facebook to share their thoughts after hearing the news though many said they were not surprised.
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One user said: “Another one bites the dust.”
“Good grief only six months?” asked another.
A third user concluded: “Sign of the times.”
“I feel sorry for the staff who will lose their jobs,” said a fourth user.
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Someone else said, "Had it been a clothes store it could have had more interest. It's a shame as it's a lovely store with lovely staff."
The Sun has reached out to M&S for comment.
M&S has also confirmed the closure date of another store in Hexam.
Local media reports the M&S store on Maiden's Walk will is due to close for good on May 25
A spokesperson for Marks and Spencer said the Hexham branch closure was part of its "store rotation programme".
They added: "We have announced that we are investing £480 million in bigger, better stores across the UK.
In October 2022 M&S announced it would shut 67 "lower productivity" locations over the following five years.
The 67 closures come as part of 110 that M&S previously earmarked for closure.
When M&S first announced the closures, it said it hoped they would save the business £300million in total.
What is happening to the high street?
High street retailers have struggled in recent years as shoppers increasingly turn to online retail.
High energy costs and business rates have hit retailers hard.
This has left some businesses grappling with budgets and having no choice but to close stores to cut costs.
For the most part, supermarkets have braved the storm as they provide essential items like food and drink but other retailers have been less fortunate.
Several well-known major brands have fallen into administration including Wilko and Paperchase.
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This year, The Body Shop fell into administration and has seen dozens of branches close, 82 will have shut in total by the end of April.
Boots announced it would be closing 300 stores over the next year as part of plans to evolve its brand.
Retailers closing stores in 2024
RETAILERS have been feeling the squeeze since the pandemic, while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to the soaring cost of living crisis.
High energy costs and a move to shopping online are also taking a toll, and many high street shops have struggled to keep going.
Here's a list of all the big-name brands closing stores this year:
- Argos - The brand announced plans to close 100 standalone UK branches last year as it looks to move away from the high street and focus on expanding its presence in supermarkets.
- B&Q - The chain has over 300 shops across the UK, so chances are you have one near you, but some stores have closed in recent months.
- Boots - The health and beauty chain announced that it would be closing 300 stores last July. Closures are ongoing and this will see the retailer's estate reduced from 2,200 to 1,900 shops.
- Clintons - Clintons mulled plans to close 38 shops in a bid to avoid insolvency late last year. We've listed the stores affected.
- Costa Coffee - The caffeine giant has around 2,000 sites nationwide, so chances are you'll have one near you. The chain has shut the doors to dozens of its sites recently. We've revealed which stores are due to close this year.
- Iceland - The supermarket has more than 900 stores but closed nearly two dozen sites in 2023, and more selected shops are due to shut.
- Lidl - The supermarket, which has 950 stores, is changing up shop locations, which has meant that some stores have to close. But the retailer is also looking to open 12 new supermarkets.
- M&S - M&S, which runs 405 stores across the country, has been closing a string of branches across the country in a blow for shoppers. It's not all bad news, though, because the chain also has big plans to open dozens of new shops as well.
- Trespass - The firm announced in July last year that it was closing six branches, but more are on the way.
- WHSmith - The retail giant, which runs over 1,100 stores, has shuttered eight stores since March 2023, but more are coming.
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